LESS than two years separate Cesc Fabregas from Theo Walcott but the teenage pair are an age apart.

It was a momentous day in the life of 17-year-old Walcott... and just another day at the office for 19-year-old Fabregas.

And I always thought Rod Stewart was the world's oldest teenager.

Cesc was absolutely Fabregas. In his first start, Walcott flickered. Fabregas flourished.

It was another masterclass from the Premiership's finest passer.

If Walcott matures at half the rate as his Spanish team-mate, he will be a world-class asset to Arsenal and to England. "I was pleased with Theo's performance," said Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. "I think he showed that he can make a difference at this level. We would want him to be more involved in the build-up but I was impressed with one or two of his passes as well."

You could have numbered the Fabregas passes by the dozen.

"Cesc is physically stronger, very mature and has exceptional awareness and vision," said Wenger, crisply and perfectly summing up an extraordinary talent.

Headers by Emmanuel Adebayor led to an own goal from Jordan Stewart and a routine finish from Thierry Henry.

Adebayor got his own reward for a spring-heeled display courtesy of a second half tap-in.

In truth, Arsenal could have won how they wanted and by how many they wanted.

Watford were well-drilled and well tired after leaving no drop of energy untapped.

But the chasm between these two is unbridgeable. It was corporate versus corner shop.

Keeper Ben Foster can confidently send the DVD back to Sir Alex Ferguson and while Dan Shittu and Jay Demerit stamped a bruise here or there, they were never really going to be able to cope with a team that is cheetah-quick.

The inclusion of Walcott upped the revs even more, but the young forward will remember the 65 minutes only for their significance.

With each game, it gets harder to accept that Fabregas has just 711 days' seniority over Walcott.

He shifts the ball as though it is a puck on ice. The Spaniard couldn't find a bobble if he spent a month in Zagreb.

Every pass is precious. Rarely does he lift the ball from the turf - unless it is a set-piece.

His floated free-kick gave Arsenal the lead as Adebayor leapt taller than Shittu and Stewart's arm could only divert the glancing header past Foster.

Goal number two was lifted from the Watford handbook. Jens Lehmann's punt, another prodigious pogo jump from Adebayor, Henry in the clear and the obligatory low, sliding finish.

Watford's endeavours might have brought some joy in the second half but it was strictly toying time for Arsenal. And while Walcott was hauled off to some acclaim, Fabregas remained on centre stage.

And it was fitting that the midfielder's short pass should set up the third. Henry stretched into the path of the ball and flicked it to Adebayor, who was left with a walk-in.

"I was pleased that we didn't lie down," said Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd, whose side are still searching for their first Premiership win.

"But we just lacked a bit of quality in the final third. But I've seen enough to be convinced that we are going to stay up.

"I certainly want to come back to this place ...assuming that Arsenal stay up, of course!"